Here’s What’s Happening

In Memory of Sister Audrey Goldschmidt

Sister Audrey Goldschmidt Sister Audrey Goldschmidt, 89, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, Minnesota, died at Assisi Heights on Monday, August 24, 2026. Audrey Helen Goldschmidt was born on July 22, 1937, in Sleepy Eye,...

World Day of Prayer for Creation Mass

To view 6:30 PM Mass via live stream: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88367423126

August 2026 News Update

Franciscan sister journeyed to the Arctic. She found a land teeming with life. By Brian Roewe, National Catholic Reporter | July 23, 2026 With oil drilling threats looming in a federally protected reserve the size of South Carolina, faith leaders hope to reframe the...

About Us

The Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota, are led by the Holy Spirit to embrace the Gospel life of continual conversion, through prayer.

Prayer Request

One of our ministries is prayer. If you have a need that you would like to share with us, we would be happy to take your prayer request. Please complete our online form.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is a companioning of individuals on their spiritual journey. This process is for those who are seeking to deepen their meaning and purpose in life.

Donate Now

Every contribution makes a difference in the lives of our Sisters and helps maintain and enhance the ministries of our Congregation.

Become a Sister or Cojourner

We invite you to consider a spiritual relationship with the Sisters of Saint Francis.

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Sisters of Saint Francis – Rochester, Minnesota

Welcome! The Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota, a Roman Catholic congregation for women religious, was founded in 1877 by Mother Mary Alfred Moes. The Congregation’s headquarters are located at Assisi Heights in Rochester, Minnesota.

Rochester Franciscan Sisters are located in several communities in Minnesota, as well as eight other states in the U.S., and in Colombia, S.A. We have a Spirituality Center at Assisi Heights in Rochester, Minnesota. Our ministries are numerous and varied.

As our Mission Statement affirms: “We are led by the Holy Spirit to embrace the Gospel life of continual conversion, through prayer, community and service, in the tradition of Francis, Clare and Mother Alfred. We, Rochester Franciscan Sisters and Cojourners, commit ourselves to be a compassionate presence for peace in our world, striving for justice and reverence for all creation.”

About Us

Meet The Sisters

We invite you to find out more about the individual Sisters of Saint Francis. Hear their unique stories, and shared experiences. Some things you will learn, include:

Why did they choose to become a Rochester Franciscan?
What is their passion?
How have their ministries impacted others, as well as themselves?

New stories will be added, so please check back often.

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- Dalai Lama

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

- Dalai Lama

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

- Richard Rohr, Falling Upward

Whatever good, true, or perfect things we can say about humanity or creation, we can say of God exponentially. God is the beauty of creation and humanity multiplied to the infinite power.

– Sister Generose Gervais

I do not have a choice as to when or how I shall die. But I do have a choice as to how I shall live.

– St. Francis of Assisi

Where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor disturbance.

– William Stafford

The earth we are riding keeps trying to tell us something with its continuous scripture of leaves.

– Psalm 63:1

My soul thirsts for you.

– Julian of Norwich

All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.

– Pope Francis

I see clearly that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity.

– 2 Cor 12: 9

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.

- St. Teresa of Calcutta

We can do no great things – only small things with great love.

– St. Francis, TOR Rule 9

Everywhere and in each place, and in every season and each day, may we have a true and humble faith.

– St. Francis of Assisi

As a mother loves and cares for the child of her flesh, how much more should we love and care for one another in the Spirit.

– Dalai Lama

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.

- St. Teresa of Calcutta

Give! Give the love you have received to those around you.

– 2 Corinthians 4:9

We walk by faith, not by sight.

- St. Teresa of Calcutta

Both humility and prayer grow from an ear, mind, and tongue that have lived in silence with God, for in the silence of the heart God speaks.

- Pope Francis

Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God.

– Julian of Norwich

God is everything that is good. All life’s pleasures and comforts are sacramental; they are God’s hands touching us.

– Diarmuid O’Murchu (Litany of Christian Liberation)

Blessed are we because Jesus bridges the way to our next evolutionary leap, illustrated in the empowerment of his resurrected presence.

– 1 Cor 13: 4

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy Love doesn’t brag, is not proud.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The only true gift is a portion of yourself.

– Meister Eckhart

Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion.

– Victor Hugo

Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have . . . accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

- St. Teresa of Calcutta

Love cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.

– 1 Celano 115

The brothers who lived with [Francis] know that daily, constantly, talk of Jesus was always on his lips . . . Out of the fullness of the heart his mouth spoke.

– Diarmuid O’Murchu (Litany of Christian Liberation)

Blessed are we because Jesus models life as a Spirit-filled being, the evolutionary being to which we are all called.

– Dalai Lama

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.

– Luke 6:31

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Spirituality Center

The Assisi Heights Spirituality Center provides spiritual and educational resource programs which reflect the mission of the Sisters of Saint Francis “to be a compassionate presence for peace in our world, striving for justice and reverence for all creation” by providing a place of hope, prayer, reflection, and enrichment.